Engine Pylon Topology Optimization Framework Based on Performance and Stress Criteria

Abstract

Reducing fuel consumption is a major driver for the design of future aircraft. The engine integration primary structure plays a significant role in the integrated engine thrust-specific fuel consumption. A topology optimization framework was developed to design the primary structure integrating the engine to the aircraft wing considering mass, stress, and engine performance criteria. The proposed approach had to address several challenges associated with the use of nonuniform meshes, the integration of the engine model as a super-element, and the presence of nonconforming mesh interfaces. Analytical adjoint evaluations for all the responses were also derived. The framework was tested on a simplified engine model providing a consistent solution.